Kill rates and predation patterns of jaguars (Panthera onca) in the southern Pantanal, Brazil

摘要: Jaguars (Panthera onca) often prey on livestock, resulting in conflicts with humans. To date, kill rates and predation patterns by jaguars have not been well documented. We studied the foraging ecology of an area both livestock native documented rates, characteristics killed, predation, influence size duration at sites time interval between kills. Between October 2001 April 2004 we monitored 10 equipped global positioning system (GPS) collars. collected 11,787 GPS locations identified 1,105 clusters as concentrated use (e.g., sites, bed dens). Of these, found remains 415 438 items. Kills were composed 31.7% cattle (9.8% adults 21.9% calves), 24.4% caiman (Caiman crocodilus yacare), 21.0% peccaries (mostly Tayassu pecari), 4.1% feral hogs (Sus scrofa), 3.9% marsh deer (Blastocerus dichotomus), 3.2% giant anteaters (Myrmecophaga tridactyla), 2.0% capybaras (Hydrochoeris hydrochaeris), 1.6% brocket (Mazama americana M. gouazoubira), other avian, mammalian, reptilian species. Individual differed proportion each species they killed versus cattle. Although all cats cattle, 5 a high (.35% kills), 3 few (,15%). Males (27%) females (35%) similar proportions. In contrast, male higher than did females, female more males. The mean rate for was 4.3 days 6 4.4 SD known consecutive to next subsequent increased increasing size. also length carcass increased. Jaguar steadily over 4year study. decreased during same period. Rainfall, water levels Pantanal, main driver seasonal caiman. As increased, became distributed throughout landscape. Conversely, fell, less plentiful, moved out into pastures thereby their availability jaguars. DOI: 10.1644/09-MAMM-A-171.1.